A week after their night together, Lucius and Severus were regretting what they had done. They had enjoyed it and hoped to do it again but the fact of the matter was -- Hermione seemed to be having issues with it.

The morning after it happened, Lucius and Severus woke to an empty bed. They figured she was in the library or had gone for a walk, but when she failed to show up hours later, they had started to worry about her. They searched the school be she apparently didn't want to be found -- and thats when they started to wonder if it were a mistake.

Hermione didn't come to The Great Hall for her meals, she was having trouble with what she had done. She enjoyed it -- but the fact of what they were to her in her normal life was becoming bothersome. How would they act when they found out how much younger she was? How would they respond if she told them that they were her professors? -- it made her brain hurt thinking about it.

She made it down to the kitchens and was instantly greeted by Tibbs, who was more then happy to see her.

"Miss looks sad." Tibbs stated with flattened ears.

Hermione couldn't help but smile at him but her eyes still filled with small tears, " I'm afraid I will lose the only friends I have here." she stated softly to the little elf.

Tibbs reached up his little hand, not sure if he was stepping over the bounds with her or not. He wanted to show her that he was her friend. Hermione looked down to the offered hand and took it without a trace of hesitation.

"Tell Tibbs whats wrong with miss." He said while taking her over to the small table.

Hermione sat down and waited for Tibbs to take his spot opposite of her. She needed to talk to someone before her friendship with Lucius and Severus was damaged beyond repair.

"If I tell you – will you keep my secrets even though I'm not your master?"

Tibbs seemed to look thoughtful for a minute before responding, "Tibbs will keep missus secrets."

Hermione smiled at the little elf, she was glad to have someone to talk to other then the headmaster – and he certainly wouldn't do in this situation.

"I have two friends here and I really enjoy spending time with them."

Tibbs nodded and placed his little head on his hands like a girlfriend would.

"The problem is, in reality – my time, These two friends are authority figures and twenty years older then me."

Tibbs looked at her confused

"I accidently got sent 20 years in the past and in my real time, My two friends are my professors and not such nice men."

Tibbs frowned, " If they's not nice men, then why be friends?"

"because they are nice now – they don't become bad men until they are older."

"Are the friend nice to miss in the future?"

Hermione shook her head in the negative, "One will think I'm annoying and the other will not like me because of my blood."

Tibbs nodded in a sad understanding.

"But miss, yous just friends now." he looked sad for a minute before responding quietly, "Friends come and friends go."

Hermione blushed, "We became more then friends a few days ago... and now I'm worried."

The small elf's eyes grew bigger if possible, " Yous mated with them?"

Hermione nodded, hearing someone else say it made it sound so bad, like she was easy or something.

But to her surprise, Tibbs was smiling

"Miss could change things for better by doing that."

"It's possible I suppose but it wouldn't only be me and them affected. You see, In the future one of them gets married and has a child... if I change that, his son might not be born and theres no telling what other changes could happen.

"Tibbs understands... time travel is never good." he stated, "But I thinks you should tell wizards...let them decided."

"But if I tell them and they get upset.. I'll lose the only other humans that even care that I breath."

Tibbs couldn't help but feel bad for the witch. She was in between a rock and a hard place with nowhere to run.

"tells them miss or you may lose them anyway."

Hermione let her head drop, she knew Tibbs was right but she was still afraid on how they would take it.

"If I agree to tell them.. will you find them and tell them to meet me in the room of requirement?"

The elf nodded enthusiastically, "I cans stay as well if you needs me too."

"Thanks.. but I don't think that will be needed." She said while standing, "Please tell Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy to meet me in the room – I'll be waiting for them." She paused for a minute and walked around the the elf that was as alone as she was and gave him a hug.

"And you Tibbs, have a friend in me."

Tibbs felt his spirit lift at her words, he had a friend and a real one at that. He smiled a huge smile and hugged her back. It felt good to have someone even if she wasn't his master.

"I's go get the mates." He said and disappeared with a pop.

Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Twenty minutes later, Hermione found herself pacing back and forth in front of her two friends that had extremely confused looks on their faces. They could tell what she had to say was important so they were willing to wait for her to speak – it didn't take long.

"You are both aware that I am not from this time." She stated and they nodded.

"I happen to be twenty years in the past right now.. and I sort of know you when you're older."

"Twenty years??" Severus asked in shock, "I thought maybe five or ten at the most."

Lucius, however, just waved his hand in dismissal, "You're our age now."

Hermione groaned and sat down in the chair across from them heavily, "It's not that easy... you both hate me in the future."

It was like watching cats play with a string, both men cocked their heads to the side at the exact same time.

"Why would we do that?" Severus asked

Hermione sighed, it was now or never and she had already gone to deep to back out now, " You will both hate me when I tell you this... and I'm prepared for it – but please understand that I don't regret what happened between us."

Both remained completely quiet

"In twenty years, you will both be Professors at Hogwarts – my professors, and you, Severus, will think I'm a know it all and have no problem in telling me so." She then turned to Lucius, "And you, Lucius, tolerate me – but you hate me for my blood."

both looked at her as if she had lost her mind.

"We don't hate you now – Why would that change?" Lucius asked

Hermione sighed again, "I cant tell you anything more then I already have. I cant risk changing the time line – too many people are involved."

They understood but it didn't sate their curiosity... they wanted to know.

"I don't hate you, even if you are my student in the future." Severus stated with a smirk, "Was it I that taught you that little trick in potions?"

Hermione smiled, "I was your best student and I learned many, many things from you."

"What about me?" Lucius asked

"Truthfully... you scare me in the future." she said with a small laugh

Lucius frowned slightly but he still didn't hate her – he couldn't even imagine he could.

"Come here" Lucius said in a serious voice.

Why she went, she didn't have a clue but she wanted to be near them even if it was only for a little while. She walked over to the couch and was pulled into the middle of them and instantly felt two arms drape around her.

"So tell me." Lucius purred, "And I still good looking in twenty years?"

Hermione let out an honest to god laugh, "You are both devilishly hansom in twenty years."

Both me smirked, they knew it.